Apparatus for cleaning floors and disposing of fiber waste in textile mills



March l2, 1968 R, BLACK, JR 3,372,425

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FLOORS AND DISPOSING 0E FIBER wAsTE IN TEXTILE MILLS Filed Sept. v1, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l 52 loPf F Z INVENTOR:

PQESEET L. BLAC. KJ 1YR,

BYMMJ@ ga/wif ATTORNEYS March 12, 1968 R L BLACK, JR 3,372,425

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FLOORS AND DIsPosING 0F FIBER v WASTE IN TEXTILE MILLS Filed Sept. 1,-1965 5 SheeLS-Sheet 2 p c3 D O -Q gllvd INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS Ro-EET L. BLAcK-R.

R. L.. BLACK. JR

March 12, 1968 3,372,425

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FLOORS AND DIsPosING 0F FIBER WASTE IN TEXTILE MILLS 5 Sheets-Sheet, 5

Filed sept. 1, 1965 Suc and W TIoN SOURCE ASTE STORAGE- MEANS INVENTOR ROBERT L. BLACK,JE,

WM www@ ATTORNEYS United States Patent O "i 3,372,425 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FLOORS AND DISPOSING OF FIBER 'WASTE [N TEXTILE MILLS Robert L. Black, Jr., Charlotte, N.'C., assigner to Parks- Cramer Company, Fitchburg, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Sept. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 484,381 13 Claims. (Cl. 15-312) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A liber waste disposal system in which liber waste sucked from a textile mill oor into one or more collection chambers of a traveling suction cleaner is periodically transferred therefrom by establishing communication between the chambers and a suction mouth or mouths of a stationary receiving station, during which the cleaner may be stopped Iat the station, and thereafter, the cleaner may resume travel past the station in the same direction as before. Such communication may -be established by extending and then retracting the suction mouths relative to the station and the traveling cleaner.

This invention relates to traveling pneumatic cleaners of the type which travel on tracks extending over rows of textile machines and pick up lint from the iioor in a textile mill. More particularly, this invention is directed to an improved apparatus for removing liber waste from a traveling collection chamber or chambers into which the fiber waste is conveyed from the tloor of a textile mill by suction.

The periodic, automatic transfer of collected fiber waste from the collection chamber of a traveling suction floor cleaner to -a stationary receptacle is generally well known in the textile industry and is exemplified in many patents such as U.S. Patents Nos. 3,011,202 and 3,046,162, for example. The collection chambers shown in these patents are generally of elongate tubular form having one or more foramin'ate walls and are connected at one end to the discharge side of a suction blower with a discharge door at the other end. As shown in Patent No. 3,011,202, the door of the collection chamber opens as it passes the open end of a stationary receptacle so the collected fiber waste is blown from the chamber into the receptacle. As shown in Patent No. 3,046,162, the collection chamber door is opened as the chamber enters and is partially enclosed in a stationary receptacle and the liber waste is blown from the chamber into the receptacle. These types of traveling cleaners are in general use in the industry and have performed their intended functions very etliciently. However, the capacity of the collection chamber in such cleaners has been limited and frequent emptying is required.

More recently, traveling suction oor cleaners, equipped with one or more substantially cylindrical, and substantially vertical collection chambers of increased capacity, of the type disclosed and claimed in my U.S. Patent No. 3,188,680, have been installed in various mills and have proven to be very practical and popular, even though the chambers had to -be emptied manually. There are several advantages in traveling suction oor cleaners of this type. For example, the lint-laden air enters each cylindrical chamber in such a manner that it flows in a helical or cyclonic path creating a l-ow pressure area in the central portion of the chamber causing the collection lint to be suspended as a lightly concentrated, whirling mass in the central portion of the chamber. Such chambers have exhaust iilter means in the cylindrical wall .thereof which is prevented from clogging with lint -by cir- 3,372,425 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 culatory wiping action applied to the lilter internally by the helical air flow. This type of collection chamber is of increased size and capacity, and can operate for relatively long intervals of time before being emptied.

It is lan object of this invention to provide a novel means for automatically periodically removing collected liber waste from a traveling suction oor cleaner of the type last described which will combine the ladvantages of that type of cleaner with the advantages of automatic waste removal or transfer.

`It is a more specilic object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for cleaning lint and other light material from the oors of textile mills, in which the light material is removed from the floor by traveling suction and is directed into at least one traveling collection chamber and is formed into an air-suspended mass therein as the air is exhausted through a filter. Periodically, the chamber moves into position adjacent a stationary suction mouth and substantially closed communication is established between the suction mouth and the interior of the chamber. rl`he collected material then is quickly and etfectively transferred by suction from the chamber into the suction mouth from whence it is conveyed to a suitable collecting point.

ln its preferred embodiment, the invention includes a traveling suction floor cleaner equipped with one or more collection chambers of the type described, with a normally closed, upwardly directed, discharge mouth communicating with the chamber or chambers downstream from the inlet thereof. Periodically, the discharge mouth moves to, and stops at, a position aligned with a normally retracted suction mouth which is extended into close proximity to the discharge mouth. The interior of the suction mouth is subjected to suction and the discharge mouth is then opened so the mass of collected material is transferred by the suction aided by the blowing air from the chamber or chambers. Thereafter, the discharge mouth is closed, the suction mouth is retracted, and the travel of the suction cleaner is resumed.

Some of the lobjects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which- FlGURE l is a side elevation of a traveling pneumatic cleaner, shown in the form of a combined suction cleaner and blowing cleaner, whose air impeller means are mounted for movement above textile machines and whose lint collection chambers are shown communicating with suction mouths of a stationary receiving station;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the traveling cleaner removed from beneath the receiving station;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view through the receiving station of FIGURE 1 with the suction mouths retracted, and showing the traveling cleaner partly in elevation and partly in section;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken substantially along line 4-4 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the opposite side of the left-hand portion of FIGURE 3, but showing the traveling cleaner in a different position;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of means for arresting movement of the traveling cleaner at the receiving station;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 in FIGURE 3 and showing means for interrupting and effecting communication between the corresponding discharge mouth and adjacent collection chambers.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the present invention may be carried out by novel apparatus which may include a traveling pneumatic cleaner 10 of conventional or other construction, modified according to the precepts of this invention, and a preferably7 stationary receiving station 11 adapted to receive lint and the like from traveling cleaner 10. Traveling cleaner 1G may include a suction cleaning section a and a blowing cleaning section 10b, although the present invention is concerned only with the suction cleaning section 16a.

Traveling cleaner 10 is supported on a motor-driven wheeled carriage 12 propelled along a suitable track 13 extending above a row or rows of textile machines, not shown. Propelling means is provided for moving cleaner 10 along track 13 and may include an electric motor 14 (FIGURE 2) suitably supported by carriage 12 and operatively connected to one or more of the wheels of carriage 12 by means, not shown, but such as is disclosed in my U.S. Patent No. 3,138,818, for example.

Blowing cleaning section Blowing cleaning section 10b may include a volute blowing housing 2() provided with outwardly extending air outlet ducts 21 supporting dependent fiexible blowing tubes 22 straddling the textil-e machines. Blowing tubes 22 are provided with a plurality of air outlets 23 for directing air streams toward machine surfaces, such as creels, drafting elements, and spindles of spinning frames, for example, the material in process, and the oor F supporting the machines. Air impeller means is provided, in the form of a blowing fan 24, for blowing air through tubes 22. Fan 24 is positioned in housing 2G and is fixed on the shaft of and driven by motor means shown in the form of an electric motor 25 mounted on carriage 12. The bottom wall of blowing housing 2t) has an air inlet opening 26 therethrough through which air is drawn by fan 24, the air also being drawn through a filter means embodiment in an annular filter or screen 27. Housing 2i) and filter 27 may be suitably supported by motor 25, as shown in FIGURE 3.

Suction cleaning section As shown, suction cleaning section 10a comprises a suction fan housing 30 which may be fixed upon blowing lhousing 20, but which is substantially closed against air communication therewith. Suction impeller means, comprising a suction fan 31 fixed on the shaft of motor 25, is positioned in fan housing 30 for drawing suction air streams into :Hoor-sweeping suction nozzles 32 and flexible suction tubes 33 movable adjacent opposite sides of the textile machines for sucking fiber waste; i.e., lint and other light material generated by the machines and the material in process, off the door F. Suction tubes 33 depend from ducts 34 projecting outwardly from a suction housing 35 communicating with suction fan housing 30 through an air inlet opening 36. Suction housing 3S may be fixed upon suction fan housing 30.

The outlet side of housing 30 is provided with a plurality of air outlets, defined by suitable air-channeling Wall members 37 (FIGURE 2) within housing 30, to which respective substantially cylindrical, substantially vertically disposed and internally unobstructed waste collection chambers or canisters are coinmunicatively connected. In this instance, four spaced collection chambers 41, 41a, 42, 42a are provided, each of which is provided with exhaust filter means which may include a top toraminate wall, filter or screen 44 and one or more screens or filters 45 forming a foraininate portion of the cylindrical side wall of the corresponding collection chamber. The bottom of each chamber may be closed by a hinged cover or door 46 normally held in closed position by suitable manually releasable latch means 47 (FIGURE 3). The outlets of suction fan housing 30 communicate with the upper portions of collection charnbers 41, 41a, 42, 42a in such a manner that lint-laden air, sucked into housings 35, 30 in succession, is directed into each collection chamber against the inner surface of its cylindrical wall in a tangential path causing the Cai air to move around the cylindrical wall in a Cyclonic or helical path so it continuously wipes the inner surface of the cylindrical wall to prevent the corresponding filter from clogging up with lint while exhausting air therethrough and thereby preventing restriction of the air flow into the suction nozzles 32, tubes 33, ducts 34, and housings 30, 35. Further, such cyclonic air flow creates a low pressure area in the central portion of each collection chamber which causes fiber waste directed thereinto to bunch in the central portion of each chamber and to be largely suspended therein by `the circulating air in a lightly concentrated, generally vertical, column or mass.

To accommodate the receiving station 11 in effecting transfer of fibers from the collection chambers, the leading and trailing pairs of chambers 41, 41a and 42, 42a may be interconnected by respective communicative means 50, 50 shown in the form of bridging ducts of substantially rectangular cross-section overlying track 13 and whose central portions form respective, normally closed, waste discharge or egress mouths 51, 51 preferably facing upwardly.

Bridging ducts 50, 50 preferably communicate with corresponding chambers 41, 41a, 42, 42a through their cylindrical walls and adjacent the upper or medial portions thereof to induce the columns of collected fiber waste generally to retain their configuration during transfer thereof from the respective chambers, thus greatly increasing the speed at which the chambers may be emptied. Each mouth 51, 51 is normally closed against communication with corresponding chambers 41, 41a., 42, 42a by any suitable closure means or valve means which may take the form of a pair of opposed flaps 53 (FIG- URES 2 and 7) whose upper edges are adapted to move between an open position in close proximity or touching engagement with each other and a spaced-apart or closed position adjacent or in touching engagement with opposite upwardly projecting sidewalls of the corresponding discharge mouth (51, 51').

The flaps 53 of each pair are fixed on a pair of hinge rods 54 journaled in front and rear walls of the corresponding bridging duct (50, 50'). Cranks S5 (FIGURE 7), on the ends of hinge rods 54 adjacent housings 20, 30, are connected, by links 56, to a corresponding Wing block 57 on the lower end of an upwardly biased valve actuator means or rod 60 guided in a block 61 carried by the corresponding bridging duct (50, 50') and urged, as by a spring 62, to project above a perimetrical flange 63 on the upper end of the corresponding discharge mouth (51, 51'). Thus, spring 62 nonmally retains aps 53 in closed position. Means are provided lfor depressing rods 60, as will be later described, to open the corresponding aps 53 and the discharge mouths 51, 51 when traveling cleaner 10 is in proper position adjacent or beneath receiving station 11.

Waste-receiving station Broadly, the waste-receiving station 11 is disposed adjacent the path of travel of traveling cleaner 10 along track 13 and includes a pair of spaced waste-receiving suction mouths 70, with which the discharge mouths 51, 51' of traveling cleaner 10 are adapted to register and whereupon at least one of the registering mouths (the suction mouth in this instance) may be moved automatically from a retracted to an extended position in close proximity to the other of the corresponding registering .fmouths to establish communication therebetween, substantially simultaneously with which communication is established between collection chambers 41, 41a, 42, 42a and the respective discharge mouths 51, S1 and suction pressure is induced in the suction mouths 70, 70 to effect the transfer of fiber waste from the collection chambers into the suction mouths. In its preferred embodiment, as shown in the accompanying drawings, waste-receiving station 11 is suitably supported,

as by hanger rods 69, with its normally retracted, dependent suction mouths 70, 70' spaced sufficiently above track 13 so they normally do not obstruct the travel of cleaner 10. In this instance, waste-receiving station 11 takes the form of an elong-ate substantially rectangular, open-bottomed preferably stationary casing means or housing which Imay be substantially rectangular in crosssection and may include a top wall 71, an end wall 72 and opposed side walls 73, 74 and which, with a horizontal intermediate wall or partition 75, form a pair of generally horizontally extending auxiliary ducts or passageways 76, 76 (FIGURE 3) to which respective extensible upper portions or corrugated tubes 77, 77 of suction mouths 70, '70 are suitably communicatively connected so as to depend from the corresponding auxiliary ducts 76, 76'. As shown in FIGURE 5, auxiliary ducts 76, 76 are communicatively connected to la main duct or pneumatic conveying system S extending to a suitable source of suction and waste storage means shown schematically at 81.

Suction mouths 70, 70' preferably are made of Ia rigid material and are flared outwardly at their lower portions in a rectangular fashion so their open lower ends conform substantially to the substantially rectangular flanges 63 of discharge mouths 51, 51'. The extensible and retractable portions 77, 77 are preferably circular in cross-section. Suction mouths '70, 70' may be interconnected by a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending bars 85. Suitable suction mouth extending and retracting means may be connected to bars 85. In this instance, fluid pressure means is provided for extending and retracting suction mouths 70, 70 and may comprise a lluid motor or cylinder 86 of the double-acting type (FIGURES 3 and 4) mounted on side wall 74 of receiving station `11. A crank 87, pivotally connected to the piston rod or movable element 90 cf fluid motor 86, extends downwardly in FIGURE 3 and is fixed on a transverse shaft 91 to which a pair of cranks 92 (FIG- URE 4) are secured. Cranks 92 are connected, as by links 94, to a transverse bar 93 suitably connected to longitudinal bars 85.

Opposed ends of lluid motor 86 are communicatively connected to respective iluid conduits 96, 97. Suitable delay or retarding means may be provided for controlling operation of fluid motor 86 and may take the form of a suitable throttle valve or needle valve a interposed between conduit 96 and the head end of cylinder 186. In operation, whenever iluid pressure is introduced into the head end of cylinder 86, piston rod 90 retracts to the left in FIGURE 3 to impart downward movement to links 94, bars 85, 93 and suction mouths 70, 70 as shaft 91 turns in a counterclockwise direction. Conversely, introduction of fluid pressure into the left-hand or base end of cylinder 86 raises suction mouths 70, 70. To assist tluid motor 86 in raising and normally maintaining suction mouths 70, 7G in retracted position, as shown in FIGURE 3, suitable spring means may be provided. Accordingly, tension springs b extend between and are connected to horizontal partition 75 and transverse bar 93.

Means are provided for subjecting the interior of suction mouths 70, 70 to suction pressure substantially simultaneously with the extension of the suction mouths. To this end, passageways 76, 76 are normally closed against communication with suction source 81 (FIGURE by suitable valve means or llaps 100, 10W which normally occupy the closed position of FIGURE 3 and are lixed on respective shafts 101, 101' journaled in side walls 73, 74. Cranks 102, 102 `are fixed on corresponding ends of shafts 191, 101' (FIGURE 1) and are interconnected by a link 103. A connecting rod or link 104 also is connected to crank 102' and extends to another crank 10S fixed on the outer end of shaft 91. Thus, flaps 10i), 100' normally occupy t-he closed position of FIGURE 3 and, upon downward movement of suction mouths 70, 70', rotation of shaft 91 imparts opening movement to flaps 100, moving them out of engagement with horizontal partition 75.

The means for opening discharge mouth tlaps 53 of traveling cleaner 10 may include suitable abutment means y107, 107 (FIGURE 3) carried by suction mouths 70, 70 and adapted to move against and depress rod 60 to open discharge mouths 51, 51 (FIGURE 2) after suction mouth llaps 100, 100 have been substantially opened. If desired, a suitable gasket 108 may be provided on the upper surface of each flange 63 to effect a seal between suction mouths 70, 70 and ilanges 63 of discharge mouths 51, 51 during the transfer of liber waste from the collection chambers into suction mouths 70, 70.

In order to assure proper and sufficiently sustained intercommunication between collection chambers 41, 41a, 42, 42a and suction mouths 70, 70', suitable means may be provided for arresting movement of traveling cleaner 10 as its discharge mouths 51, 51' move into registration with suction mouths 70, 70. Also, means are provided for controlling operation of suction mouths 70, 71' in response to movement of traveling cleaner 10 to a position adjacent `receiving station 11. Accordingly, traveling cleaner 10 is provided with upstanding abutment means 110 (FIGURES 3 and 5), preferably in the form of a yieldable plate member made from rubber, leather or other suitable yieldable material and which may be fixed to -a forward portion of suction fan housing 30 as by .an angle bracket 111. Abutment means 110 is adapted to move into engagement with, and then past, an abutment means 1112 depending from one sidewall of receiving station 11. Abutment means 112 is in the form of an elongate switch actuator so positioned relative to abutment means 110 as to be engaged and actuated thereby at a predetermined interval preceding the ltravel of the traveling cleaner into that position in which the mouths 51, 70` are in registration with each other. As shown in FIGURE 5, switch actuator 112 is disposed adjacent and to one side of the rear suction mouth 70 with respect to the direction of movement of traveling cleaner 10. A similar switch actuator and associated elements, not shown, may be provided ladjacent the other side of front suction mouth so as to be operated by another member, not shown, similar to member 110 to serve the same purpose as actuator 112 when cleaner 10 is moving in the opposite direction along track 113, if desired.

Actuator 112 may be pivotally mounted on the outer surface of side wall 74 and rests against the spring-loaded plunger of a normally open switch 114 also mounted on wall 74 and which is interposed bet-Ween -a suitable source of electrical energy, not shown, and an electrically operable circuit-holding time-delay means or timer 115 suitably electrically connected t-o an electrically operable four-Way valve 1116. Valve 116 is interposed between a suitable source of fluid pressure, such as compressed air, and the conduits 96, 97. Valve 116 is of a type which will, when inactive, introduce lluid pressure into conduit 97 while exhausting dln-id pressure from conduit 96. On fthe other hand, when valve 116 is actuated, fluid pressure is introduced into Iconduit 96 and exhausted through conduit 97. Timer 1:15 may be of any suitable or conventional construction capable of main-taining the tlow of current to valve 116 for a manually controllable predetermined interval following the momentary closing of switch 114. Since timers of this type are well known and readily Icommercially available, a detailed description and illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Since it lis desir-able that the arresting of traveling cleaner 1! is completed before suction mouths 70, 70 are moved downwardly, the actuation of valve 116 ellected by the momentary closing of switch 114, and through the medium of timer 115, causes lluid pressure, at its full force, to enter the upper end of a fluid cylinder or iluid motor 120 to which conduit 96 yis communicatively connected. In so doing, the movable part or piston rod of fluid motor 120 is extended from a normally retracted position to move .a carriage arresting element or arm 122 into the path of travel of traveling cleaner d and, more particularly, into the path of travel of a normally inactive carriage drive switch actuating means mounted on traveling cleaner 10. Conduit 97 is connected to the lower portion of cylinder 120. As best sho-wn in FIGURE 3, the upper end of the substantially stationary element vor cylinder of fluid motor 120 is pivotally mounted, as at I1213, on the upper portion of end ywall 72 of receiving station 11. The lower end of piston rod 121 is pivotally connected, as at 124, to arresting arm 1522. Arresting arm 122 also is pivotally supported, as at 125, by end wall 72 of Ireceiving station 11.

The switch actuating means of traveling cleaner 10 may comprise a follower arm 127 having suitable follower means or rollers 128 on its free end adapted to move into engagement with arresting arm I122 and be elevated thereby from the broken line position of FIGURE 3 to substantially the solid line position 4during the course of movement of traveling cleaner 10 after its abutment 110 has engaged and passed beyond abutment '112 with `movement thereof from left -to right in FIGURE 3 and `from right to =left in FIGURE 5. Follower arm 127 is xed on a shaft 132 jou-rnaled in a bearing 133 depending from the forward portion of front bridging duct 50 (FIGURES 3 and 6), and has a stop member 134 projecting rearwardly therefrom with respect Ito shaft 132 which normally engages the underside of bridging duct 50 to limit downward movement of the free end of follower arm 127.

As follower arm 127 is moved upwardly by arresting arm 122, the high portion of an eccentric cam c fixed on shaft 132 moves into engagement with, and depresses, the plunger of a normally closed switch 136 interposed in an electrical circuit from a source -of electrical energy to the carriage driving motor 14 (FIGURE 2), thus stopping the flow of current to motor 14 iat such time preceding registration of waste discharge mouths 51, 51 With suction mouths 70, 71 that subsequent coasting of traveling cleaner 10 along track 1'3 Iwill result in proper registration of the discharge mouths l, 51 with suction mouths 70, 70. As timer 115 operates valve 116 to lower .arresting 'bar 122, it also causes fluid to iiow slowly through throttle valve a into cylinder `86, 'the pressure of which fluid becomes more effective upon full extension of piston rod 121 land thus causes uid motor `86 to extend or lower suction mouths 70, 71 and successively open valves 100, 100' and 53 in the manner heretofore described.

It is limportant to note that, although both the carriage driving motor 14 and the fan motor 25 may be connected to a source |of electrical energy by means of the usual electrodes extending longitudinally of track 13, such as are shown in lFIGURE 2 of lU.S. Patent No. 2,484,880, for example, the circuits to electric motors l14, 25 are in parallel so that motor 2S continues to drive fans 24, 31 while motor 14 is de-energizcd Iduring the transfer of fiber waste from the collection chambers into suction mouths 70, 70. Thus, the blowing air induced by suction fan 31 in collection chambers 41, 41a, 42, 42a greatly assists the suction in mouths 70, 70 in transferring fiber Iwaste from the collection chambers into the suction mouths 70, 70 whereupon the fiber waste is conveyed to the suction source and waste storage means 81 (FIGURE 5).

From about five to fifteen seconds may be required to arrest traveling cleaner and transfer collected Waste from collection chambers 41, 41a, 42, 42a into suction mouths 70, 70', depending upon the traveling speed of cleaner 10, the intervals between chamber-emptying operations, the amount of liber waste in the chambers, the amount of suction in mouths 70, 70 (preferably 4000 to 6000 cubic feet per minute volume), 4and the volume and velocity of the blowing air streams owing from suction fan 31 through the collection chambers and ducts S0, 50. When the transfer of waste is substantially completed, timer 115 breaks the circuit to valve 116 and deactivates the same to reverse the iuid ow through cylinders 6, 129, thus retracting suction mouths 70, 70', closing valves 53, 10G, 1F19', and raising arresting bar 122.. As bar 122 is raised, `follower arm 127 gravitates to the lowered, dotted line position of FIGURE 3, permitting switch 136 (FIGURE 6) to close and thereby starting motor 14 (FIGURE 2) to resume the travel of cleaner 10 along track 13.

If track 1.3 is endless, it is apparent that cleaner 10 may always travel the same direction. if a double-ended track is used, it is apparent that the direction of travel of cleaner 10 may be reversed adjacent each end of track 13. In the latter instance, additional means, operable in the reverse manner of elements 110, 112, 122, 127 may be provided, if desired, for effecting operation of receiving station 11 and for arresting cleaner 1G in the course of its travel in the reverse direction from that previously described herein. Due to the large capacity of collection chambers 41, 41a, 42, 42a, however, it may not be necessary in most installations to empty the chambers during reverse travel of cleaner 10 from right to left in FIG- URE 3, when it is mounted on a double-ended track.

It is thus seen that I have provided a preferred embodiment of the apparatus capable of fulfilling the objects of the invention and having the advantages set forth in the introduction to this disclosure. Another important advantage in combininsy the type of cleaner described with automatic waste removal or transfer is that, in the event that a particular textile machine over which track 13 extends is stopped for any reason, such as block creeling, doiing, etc., so that it is desirable to reverse the travel of the cleaner each time it approaches the stopped machine, the chambers usually would have suicient space therein to accommodate the additional waste fiber picked up by the suction cleaning section 10a until it is permitted to pass said particular machine in its course to receiving station 1.1. Also, in the event of malfunction of station 11 for any reason, or if cleaner 1G is prevented from traveling on that part of track 13 adjacent station 11 for an extended period of time, manual emptying of the collection chambers may be effected in such .an emergency simply by manually stopping cleaner 10, releasing latches 47 and permitting the collected fiber waste to fall out of the chambers into a suitable container, such as a coiler can, after which the doors 46 may be manually closed and latched and operation of the traveling cleaner may be resumed. Means for manually starting, stopping and/ or reversing the travel of cleaner 10 are Well known and have been in use for many years, and therefore a description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although speciic terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. Means for disposal of fiber waste generated by textile machines comprising a traveling suction floor cleaner having a motor driven fan, a housing enclosing said fan, means supporting said housing for travel above a row of textile machines, means propelling said housing along said supporting means, suction tube means connected to the suction side of the housing and movable adjacent the iioor for sucking fiber waste therefrom, at least one substantially cylindrical collection chamber having an exhaust filter therein and being connected to the outlet side of said housing for receiving airborne iiber waste and being so constructed as to cause the air to move in a helical path in said chamber to form the fiber waste therein into a loosely assembled mass substantially free of the filter, a discharge mouth for said chamber, a receiving station having stationary casing means and a normally retracted suction mouth carried by said casing means adjacent the path of travel of said cleaner, means for creating suction in said suction mouth, and means responsive to movement of said cleaner into predetermined proximal relation to said casing means for moving said suction mouth relative to said casing means from said retracted position to an extended position in close proximity to said discharge mouth and for establishing substantially closed communication between said suction mouth and said discharge mouth upon said `cleaner moving adjacent said station and causing said mass of ber Waste to be transferred from said chamber into said suction mouth under combined impetus of the outlet air from said housing and the suction in said mouth.

2. A structure according to claim 1, including means responsive to movement of said cleaner to a predetermined position adjacent said receiving station for stopping the travel of said cleaner, and said last-named responsive means being operatively connected to said means for moving said suction mouth relative to said casing means.

3. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said discharge mouth is normally closed, and means operable automatically to open said normally closed discharge mouth upon said suction mouth being extended.

4. A structure according to claim 3, in which said means for creating suction in said suction mouth comprises conduit means connecting said suction mouth to a source of suction, normally closed valve means interposed between said suction mouth and said source, and means responsive to movement of said cleaner adjacent said receiving station for opening sai-d valve means.

5. A structure according to claim 4, including means operable automatically upon a predetermined interval following the extension of said suction mouth for closing said discharge mouth and said valve means and for retracting said suction mouth relative to said casing means.

6. Means for disposal of ber Waste generated by textile machines comprising a traveling suction oor cleaner having a driven fan, a housing enclosing said fan, means for mounting and traveling said housing in a predetermined path over at least one of the machines, suction tube means connected to the suction side of said housing and movable adjacent the iioor for sucking ber Waste therefrom, at least one collection chamber mounted to travel with said housing and adapted to receive liber waste picked up by said suction tube means, a discharge mouth for said chamber, a receiving station having stationary casing means and a normally retracted suction mouth carried by said casing means adjacent the path of travel of said cleaner, means creating suction in said suction mouth, and means responsive to movement of said traveling cleaner into predetermined proximal relation to said receiving station for moving said suction mouth relative to said casing means Vfrom said retracted position to an extended position in close proximity to said discharge mouth and for establishing substantially closed communication between said suction mouth and the interior of said chamber to cause iiber waste to be transferred from said chamber into said suction mouth under impetus of the suction therein.

7. Means for disposal of iber waste generated by textile machines comprising a traveling suction floor cleaner having a motor driven fan, a housing enclosing said fan, means supporting said housing for travel above a row of textile machines, means propelling said housing along said supporting means, suction tube means connected to the suction side of the housing and movable adjacent the oor lfor sucking fiber fwaste therefrom, at least one substantially cylindrical collection chamber having an exhaust filter therein and being connected to the outlet side of said housing for receiving airborne fiber waste and being so constructed as to cause the air to move in a helical path in said chamber to form the fiber Waste therein into a loosely assembled mass substantially free of the filter, a discharge mouth for said chamber, means normally closing said discharge mouth, a receiving station having a suction mouth adjacent the path of travel of said cleaner, means for creating suction in said suction mouth, means establishing substantially closed communication between said suction mouth and said discharge mouth upon said cleaner moving adjacent said station and comprising abutment means engagea'ble and movable by said traveling cleaner as it approaches said station, means responsive to movement of said abutment means for extending said suction mouth from a normally retracted position to an extended position in close proximity to said discharge mouth and means responsive to movement of said suction mouth into close proximity to said discharge mouth for opening its closing means, thereby effecting communicate between said suction mouth and the interior of said chamber and causing said mass of fiber waste to be transferred from said chamber into said suction mouth under combined impetus of the outlet air from said housing and the suction in said mouth.

8. Means for disposal of fiber waste generated 'by textile machines comprising a traveling suction oor cleaner having a motor driven fan, a housing enclosing said fan, means supporting said housing for travel above a row of textile machines, means propelling said housing along said supporting means, suction tube means connected to the suction side of the housing and movable adjacent the oor for sucking ber waste therefrom, at least two substantially cylindrical collection chambers each having an exhaust filter therein and being connected to the outlet side of said housing for receiving airborne fiber Waste and being so constructed as to cause the air to move in a helical path in said chambers to form the liber waste therein into respective loosely assembled masses substantially free of the ilter, conduit means communicatively interconnecting said collection chambers, a discharge mouth communicatively connected to said conduit means, a receiving station having a suction mouth adjacent the path of travel of said cleaner, means for creating suction in said suction mouth, and means establishing substantially closed communication between said suction mouth and said discharge mouth upon said cleaner moving adjacent said station and causing said masses of fiber waste to be transferred from said cham bers into said suction mouth under combined impetus of the outlet air from said housing and the suction in said suction mouth.

9. Means for disposal of liber Waste generated by textile machines comprising a traveling suction floor cleaner having a motor driven fan, a housing enclosing said fan, means supporting said housing for travel above a row of textile machines, means propelling said housing along said supporting means, suction tube means connected to the suction side of the housing and movable adjacent the floor for sucking ber waste therefrom, at least one collection chamber traveling with said cleaner and positioned on the outlet side of said housing, said collection chamber being capable of receiving and containing relatively large amounts of iiber waste without reducing the effectiveness of the suction in said suction tube means, means for automatically, at intervals, unloading fiber 'waste collected in said chamber comprising a discharge mouth for said chamber, waste receiving means having stationary casing means and a normally retracted suction mouth carried by said casing means adjacent the path of travel of said cleaner, means causing the cleaner to stop traveling at said waste receiving means without stopping the cleaner fan, means for moving the suction mouth relative to said casing means and into substantially closed communication with the discharge mouth and effecting communication between the collection chamber and the receiving means upon the cleaner being stopped, means creating suction at the suction mouth, whereby the fiber waste is transferred from the collection chamber into the receiving means by the combined action of the suction at said suction mouth and l the air from the outlet side of Said housing, and said means for moving said suction mouth relative to said casing means being operable to retract said suction mouth after completion of the waste transfer.

10, Means for disposal of ber waste generated by textile machines comprising a traveling suction oor cleaner having a driven ian, a housing enclosing said fan, means supporting said housing for travel above at least one textile machine, means propelling said housing along said supporting means, suction tube means connected to the suction side of said housing and movable adjacent the oor for sucking liber waste therefrom, at least two collection chambers each having an exhaust filter therein and vbeing connected to the outlet side of said housing for receiving airborne ber Waste therein, conduit means extending between and communicatively connected to said collection chambers, discharge mouth means communicatively connected to said conduit means, a receiving station having suction mouth means adjacent the path of travel of said cleaner, means for creating suction in said suction mouth means, and means establishing communication between said suction mouth means and said discharge mouth means upon said cleaner moving adjacent said station and causing ber waste to be transferred from said chambers through said conduit means and said discharge mouth means into said suction mouth means under combined impetus of the outlet air from said housing and the suction in said suction mouth means.

M. A structure according to claim 10, including means normally closing said discharge mouth means, and said means establishing communication including means operable automatically to open said closing means of said discharge mouth means or an interval of predetermined duration.

i2. A structure according to claim 11, in which said receiving station is so positioned that said traveling cleaner may travel past said receiving station without reversing the direction of travel of said cleaner thereby, and including means responsive to movement of said cleaner into predetermined relation adjacent said receiving station for stopping the travel of said cleaner for an interval of predetermined duration during which said transfer of liber waste occurs.

i3. A structure according to claim 12, in which said responsive means includes a normally inactive timing means7 and means engageable -by said traveling cleaner for activating said timing means.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,046,162 7/1962 Black 15-352 X 3,188,680 6/1965 Black 15-352 X RGBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

